Electrical protective device



March 4, 1930. A J A PETERSQN ifi ifid ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1924 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlfiiil ALFRED J. A. PETERSON, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING VANIA COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE Application filed February 18, 1924. Serial No. 693,729.

My invention relates to electrical protective devices and more particularly to remotelycontrolled relays.

One object of my invention is to provide a relay that shall be selectively controlled from a distant point for automatic retention in its operated or closed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relay mechanism that shall complete its own holdin circuit when it is energized.

A further ObJQCt of my invention is to provide a relay having a pivotally mounted member that shall be actuated to an advanced position in which position it may be retained upon the manipulation of remotelydisposed electrical means.

A co-pending application- Serial No. 672,- 828, filed Nov. 5, 1923, L. N. Crichton, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, shows and describes a relay in which a movable contact member is actuated to an advanced position in which position it. is automatically retained by a holding coil. By my present invention,

I propose to render the retaining means inactive until after the manipulation of suitable controlling devices.

In the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side View, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a relay embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus embodying my invention. and

Fig. 3 is a View, in elevation, of a detail.

In the several figures of the drawing, similar reference numerals indicate like parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, the preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a base memher 1 to which is secured a cover 2 bv means of a bracket 3 and a thumb screw 4. Pivotally mounted, as at 5, on the bracket 3, is a contact-supporting member or lever arm 6 which, as shown, is a bar of L-shape that is biased in a clockwise direction by aspring 7. Bridging members 8 and 9 are mounted upon a non-conducting platelO which is fastened, by suitable means, to the member 6. The bridging members 8 and 9 engage stationary contact terminals 11 and 12, respectively.

A. coil 15, that is mounted on the base member 1, is provided with a movable. core member 16 for engaging a plunger 17. The latter. in turn, is so disposed as to engage the lower face of the member 6. A second coil 18 is mounted on the base. 1 above, and in ulinement with, the coil 15. The coil 18 is provided with a movable core member 19 that is provided with a downwardly extending pin 20.

The thumb screw 4 is provided with a centrally extending aperture 22 through which a rod 23 extends. A spring 24 is provided for biasing the rod 23 in such manner that it tends to impart a counter-clockwise movement to a latch 25 that is pivotally mounted at 26 on the base 1. The latch 25 is provided with a projection forming a notch 27 that extends through an aperture or slot 28 in the lever arm or contact-supporting member 6. The rod 23 is provided with a perforation 29 that is normally in engagement with the pin 20, thereby retaining the rod 23 in its lefthand position as shown in Fig. 1 in opposition to the bias of spring 24.

Referring to Fig. 2, a supply circuit 31 is connected to the relay and a control circuit 32 is connected to the contact tern'iinals 12. The control circuit 32 may be connected to any suitable translating device (not shown) over which it is desired to exercise control. A switch 33 is connected in series with the coil 15 and a switch 34 is connected in series with the contact terminals 11, which are also connected in series with the coil 18. The switches 33 and 34 may be disposed at any remote point. A remotely-control]ed coil 35 is also provided for electrically resetting the rod 23. It is to be observed that the coils15 and 18 are included in circuits that. are in parallel relation.

In the operation of the relay, the switch 33 is closed to energize coil 15, whereupon the core member 16 is moved upwardly to engage the plunger 17 which, in turn, engages the lever arm 6 causing the latter to turn its pivot 5 to complete the circuits between the contact terminals 11 and 12 by the bridging members 8 and 9, respectively. The lever arm 6 remains in this position so long as the coil 15 continues to be energized. However, upon the interruption of the circuit extending to the coil 15, the spring 7 returns the lever arm 6 to the position shown in the drawings.

If it is desirable that the relay be latched in its advanced position, the switch 34 is closed simultaneously with or after the switch 33. A circuit is thereupon completed that extends from one of the conductors of the circuit 31 through the switch 34 to the contact terminals 11, the bridging member 8. and the coil 18 to the other conductor of the circuit 31. It is to be observed that this circuit is not completed until the lever arm 6 has been moved to its upper position and the member 8 bridges the contact terminals 11. The coil 18 is thereupon energized, the core member 19 and the pin 20 being moved upwardly until the bar 23 is liberated. Thereupon the latch 25 turns in a counter-clockwise direction under the force of the spring 2 1 transmitted through the rod 23. The notch 27 then engages the lower face of the lever 6 adjacent the aperture 28 and latches the lever in the actuated position.

The relay remains in this position until the energization of coil or until the operator grasps the end of the bar 23 and manually withdraws the notch 27 from the lever (i, whereupon the lever arm 6 may return to its original position under the influence of the spring 7, provided that the coil 15 has been tie-energized in the meantime.

It is to be observed that I have provided a relay that may be employed either for a single operation or that may be locked in an advanced position from a remote station for a definite period of time or a given number of operations. I have also provided a mechanism for remotely controlling a second mechanism that normally tends to retain the contact-carrying member in its. advanced position.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific circuit connections or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a relay, a pair of relatively movable contact members, a contact-supporting member, means for actuating the contact-supporting member to an advanced position, a latch member for automatically retaining the supporting member in its advanced position, a stop normally engaging the latch member to render the same inactive and means for removing the stop from the path of said latch member.

2. In a relay, a pair of relatively movable contact members, a contact-supporting member, means for actuating the contact-supporting member to an advanced position, means comprising a bar provided with a perforation for automatically retaining the supporting member in its advanced position, means for normally rendering the retaining means inactive and means for controlling the last named means.

3. In a relay, a pair of relatively movable contact members, a colitact-supporting mem ber, means for actuating the contactsupporting member to an advanced position, means comprising a bar provided with a perforation for automatically retaining the supporting member in its advanced position, means com prising a stop for co-operationv with the perforation in said bar for normally rendering the retaining means inactive, and means for controlling the last named means.

4. In a relay, a pair of relatively movable contact members, a coxitact-supporting member, means for actuating the contact-support ing member to an advanced position, means comprising a rcciprocable bar for automatically retaining the supporting men'iber in its advanced position. means couu'irising a stop for engaging the bar to normally render the retaining means inactive, and means for controlling the last named means.

5. In a relay, a pair of relatively movable contact members, a contact-sumiorting member, means for actuating the contact-supporting member to an advanced position. means comprising a bar provided with a perforation for automatically retaining the supporting member in its advanced position.-an armature member provided with a stop for co-operatiug with the perforation in said bar for normally rendering the retaining means inactive. and a coil for controlling the arn'iature member.

6. In a relay, :1. pair of relatively movable contact members, a contact supporting mem ber, means for actuating the contact-sixpporting member to an advanced position, means comprising a rcciprocable bar for automatically retaining the supporting i'nember in its advanced position, an armature member provided with a stop for engaging the bar to normally render the retaining means inacl ive, and a coil for controlling the arn'iature memher.

7. In a relay, a pair of relatively movable contact members, a contact-supporting member, means for actuating the contact-supporting member to an :ulvaruwed position, means comprising a rcciprocable bar for automatically retaining the supporting mcn'ibcr in its advanced position, an armature member provided with a stop for engaging the bar to normally render the retaining means inactive. and a remotely-controllcd coil for controlling the armature member.

8. A relay comprising a pair of co-operating contact members, electromagnetic means for actuating one of said, contact. members to an advanced position, a latch member, means for efl'ecting engagement of said latch memher with said one of said contact members to retain the same in the advanced position, means for rendering the latch member inactive and electromagnetic means for releasing the latch member to latch said contact member in the actuated position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of February,

ALFRED J. A. PETERS O N 

